The awards were presented in a ceremony at London's Old Vic. Kinky Boots won the Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical, voted for by the public. Best Play went to Stephen Adly Guirgis' The Motherf**ker with the Hat, seen at the National.

Other winners, voted for by a specialist panel of critics, columnists and commentators, included Nicole Kidman and James McAvoy, respectively named Best Actress and Best Actor for their performances in Photograph 51 and The Ruling Class, both seen in the West End. Imelda Staunton won a new award for Best Musical Performance for her role in Gypsy.

The Awards were presented by Rob Brydon, and co-hosted by Evgeny Lebedev, Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen. The Royal Court led with three awards in all, for Most Promising Playwright, Emerging Talent and Best Design.

In addition to the categories announced below, a series of additional awards were presented. The Editor's Award, given to an individual or organization for an outstanding contribution to theatre, was presented to veteran actress Vanessa Redgrave, who picked up her statuette from her daughter Joely Richardson and shortlisted actor Ralph Fiennes. The Lebedev Award, presented to a writer, performer, director or institution for a specific piece of work or as a lifetime achievement award, was presented by co-hosts Judi Dench and Ian McKellen to composer Stephen Sondheim who celebrated his 85th birthday this year. The Beyond the Theatre Award, for a performance, event or production beyond the realms of the stage, was presented to the Victoria and Albert Museum's "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" Exhibition. Aside from nominees, guests at the ceremony included Gillian Anderson,  Shirley Bassey, Kate Beckinsale, Anne-Marie Duff, Maria Friedman, Richard E. Grant, Salma Hayek, Lenny Henry, Jeremy Irons, Adrian Lester, Lindsay Lohan, Pixie Lott, Rufus Norris, Alex Sharp, Zoe Wanamaker, Dominic West, Ruth Wilson and Anna Wintour.



The full list of nominees is as follows, with winners shown in bold and followed by an asterisk:




Best Actor:
● Simon Russell Beale, Temple, Donmar Warehouse
● Kenneth Cranham, The Father, Ustinov Bath, Tricycle & Wyndham’s Theatre
● Ralph Fiennes, Man and Superman, National Theatre’s Lyttelton
● James McAvoy, The Ruling Class, Trafalgar Studios*

Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress:
● Denise Gough, People, Places and Things, National Theatre’s Dorfman
● Nicole Kidman, Photograph 51, Noël Coward Theatre*
● Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nell Gwynn, Shakespeare’s Globe
● Lia Williams, Oresteia, Almeida Theatre & Trafalgar Studios

Best Play:
● The Motherf**ker With the Hat (Stephen Adly Guirgis), National Theatre’s Lyttelton*
● Hangmen (Martin McDonagh) Royal Court
● The Father (Florian Zeller, translated by Christopher Hampton) Ustinov Bath, Tricycle & Wyndham’s Theatre

Milton Shulman Award for Best Director:
● Robert Icke, Oresteia, Almeida Theatre & Trafalgar Studios*
● Jamie Lloyd, Assassins, Menier Chocolate Factory
● Indhu Rubasingham, The Motherf**ker With the Hat, National Theatre’s Lyttelton

Best Design:
● Anna Fleischle, Hangmen, Royal Court*
● Tim Hatley, Temple, Donmar Warehouse
● Robert Jones, City of Angels, Donmar Warehouse

Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright:
● Molly Davies, God Bless the Child, Royal Court Upstairs*
● Alistair McDowall, Pomona, Orange Tree Theatre & National Theatre’s Temporary Space
● Diana Nneka Atuona, Liberian Girl, Royal Court Upstairs (Peckham & Tottenham pop up venues)

Emerging Talent Award in Partnership with Burberry:
● Calvin Demba, The Red Lion, National Theatre’s Dorfman
● Patsy Ferran, Treasure Island, National Theatre’s Olivier
● David Moorst, Violence and Son, Royal Court Upstairs*

Best Musical Performance:
● Katie Brayben, Beautiful, Aldwych Theatre
● Rosalie Craig, City of Angels, Donmar Warehouse
● Killian Donnelly, Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre
● Imelda Staunton, Gypsy, Savoy Theatre*

Newcomer in a Musical:
● Gemma Arterton, Made in Dagenham, Adelphi Theatre*
● Ellie Bamber, High Society, Old Vic
● Natalie Dew, Bend It Like Beckham, Phoenix Theatre

Evening Standard Radio 2 Audience Award for Best Musical (voted for by the public):
● Assassins, Menier Chocolate Factory
● Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Aldwych Theatre
● Bend It Like Beckham, Phoenix Theatre
● Gypsy, Savoy Theatre
● Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre*